CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background
to the Study
Broadcasting
started in Nigeria as a relay of the British Empire services with the radio
broadcasting in 1936. Before the fourth decade of the 20th
Century, the British colonialists had depended on
the print media for publicity and propaganda and they later added radio to
their arsenal of information dissemination (Raufu, 2011).
The
pattern of operation was not indigenous, and on this the station began
operations with the establishment of a relay station in Victoria Island, Lagos
which disseminated broadcast information to major towns in Nigeria via the
wired wireless otherwise known as Rediffussion (Owuamalam,
2006). In 1956 with the establishment of what came to be
known as Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), broadcasting was incorporated
under law and operated under the policies of the Federal Ministry of
information.
The
provisions of this law, called 1956 Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation Ordinance
stated that the corporation could carry
on all such activities as may appear requisite, advantageous or convenient” and
could erect, maintain wire distribution services. This law thus became the
first in the nation’s history to provide the legal platform for the establishment
of broadcast media in Nigeria (Udoakah, 2006).
It
was not until a hundred years after the first newspaper- “Iwe Irohin Fun Awon
Egba “ was read on the streets of Abeokuta, that Nigerians began to view motion
pictures on tube with the establishment of the first Television station in Nigeria,
and black Africa Known as Western Nigeria Television (NNTV).
This
station beamed the first signals on the 31st
of October 1959; thereby buttressing the allusion of
Otunba et al (2005) that print media is a century older than Nigerian TV, just
as it is 70 years ahead of Radio. Since
Western government of Obafemi Awolowo established the WNTV in 1959, broadcasting
has continued to grow in leaps and bounds.
Primarily
the multiplicity of broadcast stations is linked to the balkanization of the nation
into smaller units by successful governments over the years. A major boost for
the growth and development of broadcasting in Nigeria was the deregulation of
broadcast media landscape, via the promulgation of Decree no 38 of 1992 (now
act of parliament) establishing the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
Hitherto, broadcast media ownership had remained an exclusive preserve of the
state, as prescribed by the constitution. Section 39 (2) of 1999 Nigerian
constitution explains and stipulates who can own the different media in
Nigeria. It reads in parts: “Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1)b
of this section, every person shall be entitled to own, establish and operate
any medium for the dissemination of information, ideas and opinion” (Okunna, 2005 ).
Broadcasting
regulation “has started to creep into the edges of the media studies
curriculum.” This wind of change should be welcomed, because it will aid the
apprehension of the major forces that shape the communication and broadcasting environment.
However, regulation of the Nigerian
broadcast industry for free and fair media is pertinent at this period when the
whole world is talking about digitization of broadcasting. This circumstance and other bugging issues
bring to the fore, the paramount need to delve into the regulation realm of the
Nigerian broadcast industry. The quest will, no doubt engender
comprehensibility on the populace as well as guide the regulators and
stakeholders for effective broadcasting and
free and fair media (Nwanze, 2014).
Regulations
involve intervention by the state in areas of economic, social or cultural life
according to whatever political norms are characteristic of that nation state. Regulations
may be issued by presidential decree or by legislative action within a system
of representative democracy. Regulations may be administered directly by
government, as it was in Nigeria before 1992. It could also be through statutory
agencies that enjoy some degree of independence from government. This is
exemplified by National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, of Nigeria; the Federal
Communications Commission etc. (Udoakah, 2006).
At
the basic level of broadcasting, regulation involves the issuance of
permission, that is, the granting of licence to broadcasting organizations.
Moreover, broadcasting regulation is dependent on the cultural norms and also
“contributes to the shaping of these norms, and can at times have a significant
impact on the form and content of programmes thereby affecting the management structures
of broadcasting (NBC; 2006).
Visit www.researchshelf.com
for complete project materials, project topics, past examination questions and
answers, assignments, research proposals,
meet fellow students online, meet with lecturers and ask for help, read
and post news (Campus News). Registration is Free Of Charge (FOC).
Note also that
our mobile app will soon be launched where you can view all the above features
on your mobile devices and don’t forget to request for any material you need
that is not on our website through contact us page.
No comments:
Post a Comment